How much remains in coffers?

What is the real score of the finances of the Province of Cebu? Many asked this question, confused by the pronouncement of former Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia before she turned over her office to Gov. Hilario Davide III that the province has cash in the bank worth P700 million and is debt free.

This is contrary to what Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale declared when she became acting governor after Garcia was suspended six months ago. Magpale declared then that the province of Cebu has payables that it cannot pay because it did not have enough funds.

I think the confusion will be cleared now that Davide is the governor. It would be his responsibility to clarify things now that he has access to all the information about the finances of the province. I am hoping that the governor shall put to rest the issue by confronting it and giving people the real score.

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Finally Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama got what he wished for: his own choice of police chief. The Philippine National Police (PNP) already submitted to the mayor a list of five nominees for the position of Cebu City police director that included the name of Col. Noli Romana.

But even before Romana could assume his office, his director in the PNP regional office Gen. Marcelo Garbo announced that Romana was a non-performer in his immediate assignment in Negros as he was not able to effectively curb illegal gambling, a charge Romana immediately acknowledged.

Mayor Rama knows Romana’s background and is confident in appointing him as police chief of Cebu City. I confronted the mayor about Romana and his dismal performance in Negros and his involvement in illegal gambling. Rama assured me that he will supervise Romana and  that he still has the trust and confidence of Romana.

Rama is giving Romana the chance to prove his worth and Romana should shape up and enforce strictly the laws on illegal gambling and illegal drugs. Romana is confronted with the challenge of proving Garbo wrong and Mayor Rama correct and right in appointing him as Cebu City police director.

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Finally our newly elected government officials started their terms of office last Sunday afternoon. What we saw last Sunday were the oath taking ceremonies of the local government officials before the Secretary of Department Interior and Local Government, Mar Roxas and others before a judge or justice. Now many are expecting from these local government officials especially the newly elected like Mayor Johnny de los Reyes of Talisay City, Mayor John Henry Osmeña of Toledo City and Mayor Augusto Corro of Daanbantayan.

While many are excited many, especially supporters of opposing camps the supporters working in government are also anxious about what to expect from the newly elected officials. But I guess that is the reality that many should be willing to accept though they believe that it is unfair to them. They must remember that they had their time to serve their political patron.

In one case I encountered a government employee who was terminated who went to CCTN to air his grievance and begged me to intercede on his behalf but I told him that he is retained not just because he voted for Mike Rama and Team Rama but is evaluated on the basis of performance.

I asked someone involved in the selection process to look into the case of the individual who approached me. I was very categorical in saying that the person served the other party. I was assured that the process of assessing him was very fair and the evaluators considered many factors in deciding the fate of employees.